HNCs (Higher National Certificates) are vocational higher education qualifications.
While a degree helps you gain knowledge, HNCs are designed to give you the skills to put that knowledge to effective use in a particular job.
They are reputable qualifications that are highly valued by employers both in the UK and overseas, and can also count towards membership of professional bodies and other employer organisations.
HNCs are provided by over 400 universities and further education colleges.